Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

+ 20 000 artworks
An area of more than 85,000 m2
Top 10 most visited museums in the world

The best experiences

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía: Tickets + Audioguide

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23.99€

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Guided tour of the Reina Sofia Museum

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35.5€

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Art Triangle: Tickets for the Prado Museum, Reina Sofia Museum and Thyssen Museum

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41.90€

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Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía: Entrance Ticket

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15.60€

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It goes through every corner of. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

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Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, located next to Atocha Station, is one of the leading contemporary art museums in Spain. Its main headquarters is located in the former General Hospital of Madrid, an 18th-century neoclassical building that was renovated, and where the first two floors were used as temporary exhibition halls.

In 1922, the museum was established with the visit of Their Majesties King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía, who inaugurated the museum's permanent collection. With more than 1.9 million annual visitors, the Reina Sofía Museum boasts a wide variety of artworks, some of which are considered iconic or representative within the history of Spanish art. Picasso’s Guernica holds a privileged place within the museum. Other artists, such as Dalí, Miró, Maruja Mallo, Luis Buñuel, and Yves Klein, represent different artistic movements such as surrealism, cubism, and expressionism.

Over time, the museum's numerous collections and activities have led to its continuous development, and a new building by Jean Nouvel has been constructed, transforming the urban surroundings. The Reina Sofía Museum also has two buildings in Retiro Park: the Palacio de Cristal and the Palacio de Velázquez. These buildings host temporary exhibitions, film screenings, and lectures in a unique setting.

Even the elevators are art

On the large facade of the building, designed by Sabatini, you can see the two large elevators that complete the entrance. These two panoramic elevators were initially not meant to be art, but rather to preserve the exterior aesthetic and fulfill their function. However, today, they are two symbols that represent the museum to those who visit it.

Built with modern materials and avant-garde design, they contrast with the classic architecture of the building, creating a view that bridges the past and the present. They facilitate access for visitors and offer a unique view of surroundings and the museum’s facade.

Guernica

Guernica, Picasso’s most representative work is located at the Reina Sofía Museum, but it hasn’t always been here.

The painting was in the Museum of Modern Art in New York for 42 years. Due to the outbreak of World War II, Picasso decided that the painting should be kept there to avoid damage. In 1973, the town of Guernica, depicted in the painting, fought for it to be moved there. However, in 1981, the iconic artwork finally returned to Spain and was exhibited at the Reina Sofía Museum. Since its arrival at the museum, Guernica has become a symbol of peace and a testimony to human suffering during wartime conflicts, standing as one of the main attractions and a cultural reference for visitors from all over the world.

Only 5% is on display

The Museo Reina Sofía has more than 200,000 works of various artistic techniques. This makes it impossible to display them all within the museum, so only 5% of them can be shown. Major state museums like the Prado Museum or the Louvre Museum also face this issue, but no percentage is as striking as that of the Museo Reina Sofía.

Despite this limitation, the Museo Reina Sofía offers an immense collection that represents the best of contemporary art. Additionally, the collection showcases works such as The Architectonic Angelus of Millet by Dalí, La Verbena by Maruja Mallo, Woman in Blue by Picasso, or the monumental Guernica.

Dalí and Miró

The Museo Reina Sofía houses one of the largest collections of Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró, two of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

Some of the key pieces by Dalí include Portrait of Luis Buñuel, which reflects the painter’s relationship with the filmmaker, Figure in a Window or The Arlequín, where the artist explores geometry and the transformation of the human figure with his surrealist style. On the other hand, Miró is represented in the museum with works such as Le Sourire des Ailes Flamboyantes, showcasing his passing for color and form, Personnages et Oiseaux devant le Soleil, or Femme et Chien devant la Lune, a work that blends the female figure and the cosmic world with his unique and poetic style.

A hospital turned into a museum

Although we now know the Museo Reina Sofía as one of the most important galleries in Spain, it was not always this way. The museum is located in the building of the former General Hospital of Madrid. The building was designed by Sabatini in 1786 and transformed into a museum in 1786.

Sabatini’s design was respected, and only new, more modern spaces have been added to accommodate the vast collection of contemporary art the museum currently houses. The Nouvel building, designed by Jean Nouvel, integrates a historic facade with a more modern and contemporary one. Additionally, two buildings outside the museum have been used as exhibition venues: the Crystal Palace and the Velázquez Palace, both located in the Retiro Park, very close to the main museum building.

You must keep in mind the closing time

The last entry and the ticket counter closing time are 30 minutes before closing. Visitors are kindly requested to leave the room 15 minutes before closing.

Carry ID card

To enter the museum you must have a valid passport or ID card with you, as you will have to show it at the security desk.

Wear comfortable shoes

Due to the size of the museum, it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes for your visit.

The visit to the museum can last 2 hours

The tour of the museum depends on the time spent in each room. Following a minimum tour of the museum’s most important works, your visit can take up to 2 hours.

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

The best experiences

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía: Tickets + Audioguide

Guided tour of the Reina Sofia Museum

Art Triangle: Tickets for the Prado Museum, Reina Sofia Museum and Thyssen Museum

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía: Entrance Ticket

Choose your visit

Choose day and time

It goes through every corner of. Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía

Even the elevators are art

Guernica

Only 5% is on display

Dalí and Miró

A hospital turned into a museum

Recommendations for the visit

You must keep in mind the closing time

Carry ID card

Wear comfortable shoes

The visit to the museum can last 2 hours

Frequently Asked Questions

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